The casino is also a brothel

"What did you mean a place like this?" Emma asked. The two hadn't said a word to each other since they'd left the house. Her foot was outright fidgeting. The phrase had stuck out in her mind. She knew that Sean was in debt with some bad men. But, how bad were they exactly?

"I meant that gambling isn't the only thing that goes on there. Otherwise they'd just bite the bullet and get a licence." He exclaimed. He shot her a glance. "They also have women there." He didn't have to explain what he meant by the word women. He was talking about whores. Emma felt like she couldn't breath.

"That's where you've been gambling?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She grew visibly relaxed when he shook his head no. At least until he answered.

"I told you, I've never been been here before." Sean said. His voice was dark. "Debt travels. The guy I lost money too transferred what I owed to this place's owner. So he told me to come to his place and play a table with him. I don't get to tell him to fuck off. So we're going to go. I'm going to smile the whole time. You're going to smile the whole time. We'll laugh at every one of his jokes. And if he wants a favor, we say yes."

She didn't reply immediately. She wanted to chew it over. There was something sticking out. Something leaving a lump in her throat.

"But, he wanted me to come along." She said. "Why did he ask for that specifically?"

"His wife could be there. If so, it's just the etiquette." He said. His weary eyes didn't echo the words he spoke. "It could be nothing to worry about."